Biography of Charles GillettLake County, CA Biographies

GILLETT, CHARLES. Was born in Scioto County, Ohio, in 1838. When he was seventeen years of age he engaged as
apprentice to the tinner's trade, which he followed in his native county until 1861, at which time he enlisted
as a private in the Civil War in the 1st Ohio Regiment. After four months he returned home, and in October, 1861,
started for California. He came via Panama, and arrived at San Francisco November 28th of the above year. The first
winter was spent in Yolo County, and the following spring he went to Virginia City, Nevada; and after a short time
he returned to Woodland, Yolo County, and opened the pioneer tin shop in that place. Here he remained until the
fall of 1864, when he went to Solano County, where well boring was prosecuted for about two years. We next find
Mr. Gillett in Berryessa Valley, Napa County, where about one year was spent. He then went to the Zem Zem Springs,
and spent about two years, when he returned to Suisun, where he engaged in the livery business for about six months.
He then took charge of the Roberts House in that place for about one year. He then returned to Napa County, and
spent about two and a half years at Zem Zem Springs, after which he followed an engineer's life at the California
Mine, near Knoxville, for one year. He then went to the Buckeye Quicksilver Mine in Colusa County, where he was
employed as engineer until the spring of 1875. The following three years were spent on Cache Creek, in Lake County,
engaged in wool growing. In the fall of 1879 he settled on his present place, located in the lower end of Long
Valley, which he calls "Live Oak Nook." Mr. Gillett married, in November, 1875, Miss Caroline Pierce,
a native of Kentucky, daughter of Henry Pierce, then chief engineer of the San Francisco Mint. She died November
18, 1878, leaving two living children, Elizabeth and Caroline. Caroline died November 27, 1878, aged one month
and twenty days.